Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06


in the room" The inquiry, whether
addressed inwardly or to her modiSte,
is equally difficult to answer, and the
woman in search of novelty is like Dio-
genes in search of an honest man-it is
very hard to find And then again,
some ladies in securing novelty also Sc
cure opprobrium, or something very
like il.
Several ladiesin this city, for instance,
who attempted to introduce the sleeve
less bodice, which is exactly shaped
like a corset, and which leaves the per
aOn entirely exposed above it, were I'M
successful in finding admiration, and
instead, rather shocked people. The
idea, as might readily be supposed, is
a French one, and ] fear that it will be
confined to the Parisiennes who do not
object to a liberal display of their per-
sons for patronage.
For trimming the bodice OF an eve
ming dress nothing can be so pretty, 80
soft and delicate, as swan's-down, and
am glad TO see that it has come In
vogue once again. 1t possesses, too,
some merits which may or may not be
generally appreciated among the ladies
favoring il. The chief of these IL that
when placed as an edging around the
corsage opening, it gives to the flesh
a white and firm appearance not other
wise to be obtained.
Fine cut bead passementerie is also
quiet extensively employed upon eve
ming bodices just now; it is placed upon
the front in the form of plastron,
starting Just below the point of the cor
sage opening, and extending down to
the point of the bodice. An epaulet
may also be placed upon the short
sleeve, which Is composed of strip of
satin, and finished with a deep fall of
lace.
Braid appliques on street-dresses, af-
ter brief season of partial disuse, have
reappeared, and are now quite popular;
the designs are in very large scrolls,
and, as usual, are applied chiefly to the
skirt panels.
Polonaises are as much favored now
as they were in the season Of their pop
MARTY several years ago, and the shapes
are almost as numerous as the dresses.
On some two points fall over the skirt;
OH others the polonaise is made plain
al the way round, and conceals the
skirt to within few inches of the bot
tom; again, the pointed and round
apron forms, so popular for draperies
on street and indoor costumes, are also
frequently seen.
AS for the trimming and making OF
one Of these costumes, the same lati-
tude is allowed as on basque braided
and frogged fronts, vests, and plastrons
are utilized, and ON few models the
Spanish and Figaro jackets, which give
such jaunty effect, are seen.
The polonaise is very graceful mode
OF dress, and seems never to be effectu
ally extinguished; although it frequent
" disappears for time, it never fails to
return.
Young ladies sometimes prefer to
wear the hair massed at the back OF the
head instead of on top, and for this
style OF couture hat must be worn
which is peculiarly elongated i'll APP
pesrance--an ungracef1 shape, and
one which requires very judicious trim
ming to make it present good effect.
OF course most OF the garnitrue must
be massed upon the front, knot of
picot ribbons, with a brooch, wing, or
small bird should form the trimming,
and the sides (by far its larger part
may be finished with bias folds of vel
vet.
For an outdoor wrap i noticed the
other day very pretty and jaunty CON
triyance, which seemed sort Of com
promise between q plush visite and
Newmarket in shape, and which GER
tainly possessed the best features OF
both. Ii covered the form to little
below the waist, and was cut away
from there to the hips in,the form Of
a gentleman's dress-coat, being con-
tinued TO the bottom of the skirt at the
back and for short distance on each
side. IL forms a very warm wrap, and,
at the same time, viii display very
effectively neat dress-skirt beneath.
II is best developed in plush, but may
he made in velvet or yelyeteen, at the
wearer's pleasure. @. IL. NJ.